Tuesday, December 29, 2009

CPWD assures about the competition of the main venue before May 2010

The main venue for Commonwealth Games 2010, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, will be ready by May next year with the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) deciding to deploy more engineers and workers to complete the project before the revised deadline.

“I told the Rajya Sabha that the stadium will be ready in June. But I am going to increase the number of engineers and hope it will be ready by May,” sports minister MS Gill said after a meeting of the group of ministers (GoM).

Interestingly, Delhi chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had expressed concern over the delay in construction of venues, which are primarily the responsibility of the Sports Authority of India (SAI). “Everybody is happy with the preparations now. The work is progressing well,” Gill said. His assurance came after the Delhi CM had said she was “losing sleep” over the delay.

Similar sentiments were expressed by CPWD DG Bhishm Kumar Chug. “Yes, CPWD will make JLN stadium ready by May. Raw material from different countries has reached the venue and more engineers and workers have already been deployed to complete the work before the revised deadline of June,” Chug said. “In fact, in our internal schedule, it was to be completed by May,” he added.

Construction work at JLN stadium complex was initially supposed to be completed in February 2010 but the deadline was extended after a demand for a tunnel was made in October. The tunnel from the inside of the stadium was needed to facilitate the entry and exit of performing artistes at the opening and closing ceremonies.

Though it was initially opposed by Gill and CPWD on the ground that it would cause further delays, later on they agreed in order to make the opening ceremony a spectacular show. The GoM, which meets virtually every week to keep tabs on progress on various fronts, on Tuesday took stock of projects related to the October 3-14 Games.

Chairman of the organizing committee Suresh Kalmadi was also invited to the meeting to brief members on his recent meetings with CGF president Mike Fennell and on the overall progress of the Games projects.

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